Faulty centre window

[Angela3]

there have been posts on here that mentioned the faulty plastic used on the central window of some caravans, can anyone tell me what to look for as we have some marks on our central window that are on the inside-they look like small spots of mould for want of a better description!

Thanks

 

[Suzac]

The marks develop in the shape of open bird wings rising upwards from the centre of the window with the marks being a mirror image on each inside surface of the window where the two surfaces touch.

 

[James_374408700]

Angela,

Forget about 'bird wings', any marks between the panes are a result of the two panes rubbing together !

Yes you have the faulty window.

Jim

 

[Suzac]

The marks on our window first appeared whilst on a retirement tour to Portugal,Spain and France earlier this year. The initial marks looked,as you say Angela, like random mould in mirror immage on the inside of the surfaces of the window. This subsequently spread to form a wing-like pattern at approx.10 to 2 (clock) formation.

On a second holiday in France last month I approached several other owners of newish Swift Group vans to see if they had experienced any problems. All had the same pattern on their windows and several (including an 80 year old owner of a brand new Challenger (that's optimism for you!!!)were unaware that there was any problem with these windows.

How many more 100's or 1000's of caravanners are there who are unaware of the problem!!!!

 

[James_374408700]

Chris,

I think you have got in in one!

This is why Polyplastics are saying that there has been 'some' failures.

Many people are unaware of the marks, some never tow at speed and some never clean their windows!!

Jim

 

[Angela3]

oh dear not good then!

What could happen if nothing is done?

What should we do now then? We are waiting for a new shower door to be fitted under warranty(was originally to be done at Discover Newport, but now transferred to Newport Caravans) Should we contact the caravan dealer or go directly to Swift?

have also read that some poor people are on their third window as they wre all faulty!! What sort of service is this!!!?

Thanks all for your replies.

 

[James_374408700]

Angela,

If nothing is done then the marks will get more obvious. It does not appear to be dangerous in any way. Just spoils the views we all want to enjoy.

Contact your dealer Asap to get on the replacement list.

Jim

 

[James_374408700]

Angela,

If nothing is done then the marks will get more obvious. It does not appear to be dangerous in any way. Just spoils the views we all want to enjoy.

Contact your dealer Asap to get on the replacement list.

Jim

 

[grandadbaza]

Hi to all , if you go to the General forum you can keep up with progress on these windows , this is a copy of the latest post on there ,posted by Richard of Miriad the UK agent for Polyplastic

;;; FAO Grandadbaza

The first batch of re-engineered front centre windows will be sent out from Polyplastic into us at Miriad during the last week of August. (Poly have a 3 week shutdown commencing today!).

As stated previously, the VAST majority of issues have been resolved by the deeper cavity windows (the Mk II, if you will) but there are incidences (including your own) whereby this has not succeeded...hence this completely re-engineered window.

Until this new window is available we are scontinuing with the supply of the 'Mk II' as stated.

I hope this info helps!

Richard

;;

Regards

Baza

 

[Angela3]

Hi to all , if you go to the General forum you can keep up with progress on these windows , this is a copy of the latest post on there ,posted by Richard of Miriad the UK agent for Polyplastic

;;; FAO Grandadbaza

The first batch of re-engineered front centre windows will be sent out from Polyplastic into us at Miriad during the last week of August. (Poly have a 3 week shutdown commencing today!).

As stated previously, the VAST majority of issues have been resolved by the deeper cavity windows (the Mk II, if you will) but there are incidences (including your own) whereby this has not succeeded...hence this completely re-engineered window.

Until this new window is available we are scontinuing with the supply of the 'Mk II' as stated.

I hope this info helps!

Richard

;;

Regards

Baza

Right then I guess it's another job to add to the 'to do' list then!

As Swift are on a shutdown I guess it will have to wait until we hear from them as to when our shower door is ready to be replaced, then they can know about the 'not always sealing' toilet cassette and the window!!

We're away soon for 2 weeks so I guess we'll just have to manage till then, at least there is a toilet on site if all else fails!!

Thanks all for great help and advice

 

[John_374297064]

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem on my new Compass 634 (3 mths old).

Reported it my dealer who had no hesitation in ordering me a replacement window.

No forecast delivery date as yet.

Regards, John

 

[Heethers]

Yep but will the replacement be o/k l am having mine fitted on the 4th of September when it has its first service, by the way how many of you have a crooked blind on Swift models at the kitchen, seems like their have been a few of which l have one.

I think the fitter may have been cross-eyed or had a few; dealers putting it right at the service along with few others niggles.

NigelH

 

[Guest]

There has indeed been a lot of discussion on this issue and even the Mods have suggested leaving it alone until something positive is published. So far there has been lots of comments but these have often clouded the issue rather than clarifying it.

Just bear in mind that the primary issue concerns a German manufacturer of caravans and motorhomes recalling windows made by a Dutch Company over a long period of time. No one has suggested that the actual material, which is being named, is at fault, merely that the manufacturing bonding process has not been as it should be on possibly a large number of windows. Any faults from windows from the UK manufacturer supplied to UK caravans and motorhomes should therefore not necessarily be linked as these are separate Companies. As you can see it is complex and until a clearer picture evolves, I suggest leaving it alone. Litigation is also a possibility and therefore comments here would not be helpful, for either side.

 

[johnwendy]

There has indeed been a lot of discussion on this issue and even the Mods have suggested leaving it alone until something positive is published. So far there has been lots of comments but these have often clouded the issue rather than clarifying it.

Just bear in mind that the primary issue concerns a German manufacturer of caravans and motorhomes recalling windows made by a Dutch Company over a long period of time. No one has suggested that the actual material, which is being named, is at fault, merely that the manufacturing bonding process has not been as it should be on possibly a large number of windows. Any faults from windows from the UK manufacturer supplied to UK caravans and motorhomes should therefore not necessarily be linked as these are separate Companies. As you can see it is complex and until a clearer picture evolves, I suggest leaving it alone. Litigation is also a possibility and therefore comments here would not be helpful, for either side.

Hi Scotch Lad,

I don't think the issue with the windows in this thread are anything to do with the problem you seem to be referring to.

The ones that are developing marks between the plastic are being replaced under warranty and I haven't seen any mention of litigation from any of those affected by it (including myself).

Swift and Miriad are trying to solve this issue and there have been ongoing reports in the General section. Surely this can only help others keep up to date as well as alerting those like Angela (the original poster on this thread).

Wendy

 

[johnwendy]

Hi Scotch Lad

I don't think the issue with the windows in this thread are anything to do with the problem you seem to be referring to.

The ones that are developing marks between the plastic are being replaced under warranty and I haven't seen any mention of litigation from any of those affected by it (including myself).

Swift and Miriad are trying to solve this issue and there have been ongoing reports in the General section. Surely this can only help others keep up to date as well as alerting those like Angela (the original poster on this thread).

Wendy

 

[Guest]

Not trying to be picky but people are bandying the name 'polyplastics'. This is the trade name of a chemical Company that supplies various plastic and resin type materials including acrylic used for caravan windows. There is also a Company based in Holland which uses polyplastic as part of its commercial name and is a supplier of acrylic windows to many caravan and motorhome manufacturers in Europe. There is also a UK based Company that does a similar function here. They are both authorised to use the technical name 'polyplastic' for the material used in their products. One caravan/motorhome manufacturer in Europe has accepted there is a potential problem with the windows supplied by the Dutch Company over a very long period of time, and as a result it has initiated a recall programme with a number of solutions offered. Full cost paid replacement is not one of them. As many owners feel that if their windows are potentially substandard, these should be replaced free of charge and this has lead to the potential litigation issue, and a class action is being considered. As the MOds have mentioned that is outside the remit of this Forum.

If a UK Company is accepting that faults in supplied windows are suitable for full re-imbursement, that is fine, just as long as the 2 issues do not get blurred, which I suspect is likely to be the case. It could be just coincidence that 2 issues involving windows made from the same material have arisen at the same time. Again. I would stress that as far as I can ascertain, it is not the window material itself that is being questioned in either case, merely the assembly process.

All I would suggest is that anyone who feels there is a problem with their windows, starts with the supplying dealer and works through that chain of responsibility. My main point was that people sometimes have a habit of putting 2 and 2 together and often getting 5.

 

[johnwendy]

Hi Scotch Lad,

it wasn't being picky and you are right to point out the differences. So far the posts on this thread have only referred to the known centre front window marks but if there is any confusion (and someone posts about the other issue) I'm sure the mods will put them straight.

Wendy

 

[Neal_5041160]

All,

An update from a "regular user"!

We are currently on our third centre front window on a 2009 Eccles Jewel; first replaced by dealer, second replaced by Myriad / Miriad (?) in July and was supposed to be "the one".

We have just come back from a trip to Cornwall (first trip since replacement) and this one is exactly the same as the others! Why fit replacements until you are sure that they are okay??? I have now contacted the dealer and Swift - again - to arrange a replacement - again!

This would not be so bad were it not for the fact that we also had a 2008 Challenger 560 that also had three windows fitted before we got rid of it. This was made by Swift in October 2007, so this problem with supply has been rumbling on for nearly 2 years now! No wonder a box made of wood and aluminium costs so much - it is to cover all the warranty claims!

Neal

 

[Andrew_374383565]

As Angela stated at the beginning of this topic.....there have been many posts on the subject of caravan window faults..One of the difficulties of forums like this one is actually finding out how big a problem this actually is..........to solve this issue once and for all a website has been set up where owners can report their problems and help compile a register of complaints........it is a self help site with a monthly newsletter.....we have been surprised at the take up.....there certainly is a big problem out there....so take a look at the site www.caravanandmotorhomewindowproblems.co.uk you will receive feedback and find out which dealers are helping to solve the problems and which ones are not....